Press Releases
Gillibrand Urges President to Exempt Bulk Shipments of Apples from Double Inspection
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a newly appointed member of the President's Export Council, today urged the President to exempt bulk shipments of apples to Canada from double inspection. Fixing this would help New York apple growers streamline operations and save money. Exempting bulk shipments of U.S. apples to Canada from double inspection required by the Apple Export Act would offer growers immediate savings of approximately $300 per truckload, and allow growers to create … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $360,000 For Hudson Valley Fire Departments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $279,990 in federal funding for the Village of Spring Valley Fire Department and $79,906 for the Mountain Dale Fire District. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, and will be used by both departments to make equipment upgrades. "With this funding, Hudson Valley firefighters will have better equipment to keep … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Gillibrand Hails Queens Non-Profits As Environmental Champions
Queens, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, announced that two Queens non-profits won the 2013 Environmental Quality Award. The Community Environmental Center (CEC) in Long Island City and the American Littoral Society in Broad Channel - both of whom Senator Gillibrand nominated this past February - will receive the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious honor for their commitment and significant contributions to greening … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Gillibrand Hails Lumi Solair As Environmental Champion
Brooklyn, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, congratulated Lumi•Solair for winning the 2013 Environmental Quality Award. Based in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the company manufactures hybrid solar and wind streetlights. During Superstorm Sandy, six Lumi•Solair lights remained operational and nearly half were functioning in the Navy Yard, despite five feet of water and over 80 mph winds. The organization, which Senator … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Feds To Extend Deadline For City Of Binghamton To Repay Federal Loan – Forcing City To Pay Too Soon Could Jeopardize Local Redevelopment & Cost Jobs
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to extend the City of Binghamton's deadline to repay a Section 108 loan. The City of Binghamton initially took out this loan from HUD in 1985 by pledging their Community Development Block grant funding as collateral. The loan was taken out on behalf of a developer to help build the former Regency Hotel and Conference Center as part of a larger … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1.2 Million In Federal Funding For Cleanup After Superstorm Sandy In White Plains
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the City of White Plains in Westchester County was awarded $1,216,140 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding which will reimburse for the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage in-and-around White Plains, creating a massive cleanup effort for the towns that, in turn, threatened to place a burden on local taxpayers," said … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Key Senate Panel Passes Gillibrand Measure Giving Army Corps Permanent Authority To Prevent Asian Carp From Invading Great Lakes, NYS Waterways
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced Committee passage of her measure that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to take emergency measures in the event of an imminent threat of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species entering the Great Lakes. In addition, the bill also includes the Harbor Maintenance Act, which would keep money in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund that could help dredge … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Key Senate Committee Passes Gillibrand Measures To Strengthen Army Corp’s Disaster Response
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, announced today that a key Senate panel passed two Gillibrand measures that would strengthen the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers' disaster response by authorizing the Corps to recommend specific projects to reduce flood risks in areas hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy and providing the Corps with more flexibility to put the necessary infrastructure upgrades in place to prepare for … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Lead Successful Effort To Defeat Attempt On Senate Floor To Limit Use Of NYC Anti-Terror Money
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand took to the Senate floor earlier today to lead the opposition in defeating an amendment offered by Senator Coburn that would have prohibited the New York Police Department from using Urban Areas Security Initiative, or UASI funds, from being used to pay local public safety employees overtime and backfill pay. The amendment was defeated on the Senate floor by a vote of 48-51. The full text of the Senators' floor speeches are … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
With Nearly 1.8 Million New Yorkers Earning Minimum Wage or Just Above, Gillibrand Announces New Push to Increase Federal Minimum Wage
Washington, D.C. - With nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers earning the minimum wage or just above this rate - roughly 20 percent of all workers across the state -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new effort to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 over the next three years, with future increases indexed to the rate of inflation. Senator Gillibrand is pushing to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, legislation she is an original co-sponsor of that would … Continue Reading
March 18, 2013
Schumer Launches Effort to Restore Hotel Syracuse as Anchor for Downtown Development, Bring $10 Million in Tax Credits to Historic Landmark – Recently Extended New Market Tax Credits Could Help Revamp Hotel, Boost Other Business Downtown
Today, across from the Hotel Syracuse at the Syracuse Technology Garden, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer pushed a plan to bring critical funding to the Hotel Syracuse redevelopment project, which would renovate and add over 330 hotel rooms, provide a major boost to the Onondaga County Convention Center, and create nearly 400 jobs. Schumer fought successfully at year's end to extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), and today urged the Department of Treasury to approve a pending application … Continue Reading
March 18, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce that Dozens of Life-Saving River Gauges in Susquehanna River Basin will Remain Up-and-Running this Year – Feds Have Heeded Call & Will Provide $215,000 in Disaster Relief Funding to Keep Gauges Online in Southern Tier
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has set aside a portion of its disaster relief funding in order to keep dozens of stream and river gauges in the Susquehanna River Basin online, which were set to be shut off March 1st. The Senators said that these devices are critical in determining when waterways throughout the Susquehanna River Basin are nearing flooding levels. In February of this … Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Senate Committee Passage of Bill to Create Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks – Call for Vote on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Senate committee passage of legislation to establish the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn as a National Historical Park, which will also encompass the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church and Rectory. The bill also establishes the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland. Schumer and Gillibrand are sponsors of the Senate legislation, in conjunction with … Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $250,000 Federal Grant for Arlington Fire District
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today $237,800 in federal funding for the Arlington Fire District to improve recruitment and retention programs. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. "With these funds, Arlington residents can rest easy knowing even more firefighters stand at the ready to protect their community," said Senator … Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce Over $1 Million in Federal Funding for Cleanup After Superstorm Sandy in the Town of Southampton
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop today announced $1,680,101 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for the Town of Southampton, which will reimburse a majority of the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy hammered neighborhoods on the east-end of Long Island, creating a massive cleanup effort by Town of Southampton officials and a burden for local taxpayers," … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey, Maloney Announce Over $3.5 Million in Federal Funding for Cleanup after Superstorm Sandy in the Hudson Valley
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey and Sean Patrick Maloney announced the Town of Bedford in Westchester County was awarded $1,195,441 and the Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County was awarded $2,406,314 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding which will reimburse the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy destroyed neighborhoods in Bedford and Clarkstown, creating a … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $100,000 Federal Grant for Village of Elmira Heights Fire Department
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Village of Elmira Heights Fire Department is set to receive $106,277 in federal funding to purchase new personal protective clothing to replace their currently outdated clothing. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. "With this funding, Elmira firefighters will be better equipped to protect our communities," said Senator Schumer. … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Senator Gillibrand’s Opening Statement at Armed Services Subcommittee Hearing Examining Sexual Assaults in the Military
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following prepared remarks of her opening statement at today's Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing examining sexual assault in the military: "It is an honor and privilege to Chair this hearing of the Personnel Subcommittee this morning. I want to thank the Ranking Member of this Subcommittee, Senator Lindsey Graham, for his support and working with me to move this hearing forward as quickly as … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2.5 Million in FEMA Funding for Fdny after Superstorm Sandy
New York, NY - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,512,748 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), which will reimburse the cost of personnel and equipment used to help clear debris throughout city streets in order to allow vehicles to access roadways and respond to emergencies. "New York City firefighters put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers during … Continue Reading
March 12, 2013
Gillibrand Urges Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano to Reverse New TSA Rule Allowing Small Knives on Planes
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to reverse a decision by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that allows travelers to carry small retractable blade knives on airplanes. Senator Gillibrand stressed that threats posed by these small knives should not be ignored, noting the fact that airlines and airports have been prime terrorist targets since the September 11th attack, with the most recent threat … Continue Reading
